City Comparison

Davenport vs Syracuse

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Davenport

Iowa
83
Very Affordable
$212,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$66,200
Median Income

Syracuse

New York
92
Below Average
$140,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$36,708
Median Income

The Verdict

9.8%

Living in Davenport costs 9.8% less than Syracuse. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Davenport, you would need $83,133 in Syracuse.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
60
Davenport
69
Syracuse
Groceries
97
Davenport
101
Syracuse
Utilities
83
Davenport
105
Syracuse
Transportation
105
Davenport
101
Syracuse
Healthcare
97
Davenport
100
Syracuse

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Davenport has the same purchasing power as $83,133 in Syracuse.

Conversely, $75,000 in Syracuse equals $67,663 in Davenport.

Living in Davenport vs Syracuse

Housing Costs

Davenport's housing index of 60 is lower Syracuse's 69, translating to median home prices of $212,000 vs $140,000. The $72,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,680 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Davenport compared to $950/mo in Syracuse, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Davenport and 101 in Syracuse. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Davenport vs $480/month in Syracuse. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 83 in Davenport and 105 in Syracuse. Monthly utility bills average approximately $332 in Davenport vs $420 in Syracuse. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 97 in Davenport and 100 in Syracuse. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $66,200 in Davenport and $36,708 in Syracuse. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $79,759 and $39,900 respectively. Davenport residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,545/month to housing in Davenport vs $857/month in Syracuse. In Davenport, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Syracuse, median rent of $950/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Davenport is 9.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Davenport has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,133 in Syracuse, based on the cost of living difference.
Davenport's housing index is 60 with median homes at $212,000, while Syracuse's is 69 with median homes at $140,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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